Tuesday, 26 September 2017

The beginning of this year for Pakistani movies was not exactly a great. None of the movies which released managed to make a strong impact on the viewers. But things certainly changed with Eid releases. Punjab Nahi Jaungi, a Nadeem Baig directorial, that released, just four weeks back, has finally given the audience a reason to flock to the cinemas.

It's been almost a month since Punjab Nahi Jaungi released and the craze doesn't seem to simmer down. As of now, Punjab Nahi Jaungi has officially become the highest grossing film of the year!

Having ourselves watched the movie, one cant blame the audiences for falling in love with it. With its extra-ordinary setting, a good script, engaging performances and an overall good feel, Punjab Nahi Jaungi is a true family entertainer, with some great music and brilliant cinematography.

According to Box Office Detail, PNJ has managed to make 26.8 crore in 24 days which puts it ahead of Fast and Furious 8 which had collected 26.7 crore approximately. And if that was not enough, Punjab Nahi Jaungi has also superseded Actor in Law which makes it the 3rd highest grosser of all time just behind Jaawani Phir Nahi Aani and Salman Khan starrer Sultan.

And if that was not enough, Punjab Nahi Jaungi has also superseded Actor in Law which makes it the 3rd highest grosser of all time just behind Jaawani Phir Nahi Aani and Salman Khan starrer Sultan.

Not only domestically but also overseas, the PNJ buzz refuses to die down. In the UK the movie is enjoying a good run as it has beaten the life time record of Humayun Saeed and Mahira Khan starrer Bin Roye. As per Box Office Detail PN crossed £550K in 20 days whereas Bin Roye had made £546K in 19 weeks back in 2015.

So still going strong Punjab Nahi Jaungi has restored everyone's faith in Pakistani cinema. We now believe that filmmakers here in Pakistan are much capable of making good quality films that can give any movie, Bollywood or Hollywood a run for its money.

Monday, 25 September 2017

Remember how vibrant Sohai Ali Abro looked in Jawani Phir Nahi Ani? But the gorgeous diva has been missing since from the big screen and doing dramas for television. These days she looks absolutely beautiful in Hum TV's Aadhi Gawahi but we really do want to see her on the big screen.

And now, it seems like our wish will be granted soon. We recently brought the news about Sohai starring as the motorcycle girl Zenith Irfan in her biopic by Adnan Sarwar. The shooting of the film has now begun, as officially confirmed by Sarwar himself on his social media and to HIP, when we contacted him to ask where are they shooting at the moment and where they plan to go next?

"We are in Lahore at the moment and will go up to Hunza for two weeks and by the 20th of October or so will be back in Lahore " said Sarwar.

The Motorcycle Girl will be the real life story of the boundary breaking Zenith Irfan who set off on her motorcycle at the age of 20 to conquer the highlands of northern Pakistan. And with Sohai in the lead, it'll be exciting to see how the lady shuns off all the glamour and play a real life hero on her solo journey on a motorbike.

In an earlier statement, about essaying the character of Zenith, Abro had shared her excitement and honor to be playing the part. "It is an absolute honor to play Zenith in his film. The role of this incredible, empowering female is one thing I can relate to and is close to my heart. I have always believed in the power of liberating women, especially considering the taboos we face in our society. I am really happy that a lot of young girls will be able to look up to me for doing something positive and inspiring," Sohai had said.

Besides directing the movie Adnan Sarwar has also written The Motorcycle Girl. And Sohai to fit in to her role, had to learn to ride a motorcycle, to undertake the same journey Zenith began from Lahore to the majestic Khunjarab Pass. With the shooting having begun we look forward to bringing you guys many more updates as far as The Motorcycle Girl is concerned so do stay hooked to HIP until then.

Saturday, 23 September 2017

Saat Din Mohabbat In, starring Mahira Khan and Sheheryar Munawar in the lead roles has been the talk of the town lately. The film has hit the floors and yet details are being kept hushed up for this romantic comedy.

HIP, however, had the chance to spot Mahira Khan and Sheheryar Munawar shooting for the film recently and of course we had our journalist instincts triggered high to bring you exclusive scoop right from the sets where the team was shooting an action sequence at a wedding, complete with the baratis in tow and Amna Ilyas on top of a minivan with Hina Dilpazeer in a wheel chair.

While Mahira Khan was busy getting all decked up for the wedding sequence in the film and looked absolutely gorgeous in red, HIP got hold of the man of the hour, Sheheryar Munawar and dug out details about Saat Din Mohabbat In.

Talking about his character, the actor mentioned that he wasn't allowed to reveal much but he'd tell us that SDMI was a fun film, different from what he has done before. "Saat Din Mohabbat In is a fun story, a rom-com with a fantasy twist to it. It's very 'filmi' film, a true cinematic entertainer. There have been certain things that I had always wanted to try as an actor and I've gotten the chance in SDMI. The story revolves around coming of age of my character, Tipu and how he goes out looking for true love. There is action, there is humor, there is comedy, there is romance and a lot of fun in Saat Din Mohabbat In," Sheheryar adds.

Adding further, Sheheryar stated, "The mention of seven days (saat din) in the title has a lot of relevance. The story is built around these seven days and what happens during them."

While talking about the film and his reason for signing up Saat Din Mohabbat In, Sheheryar told us that the film had given him a chance to explore a lot of things, "Saat Din Mohabbat In is completely different from what I have done before. Ho Mann Jahan was different but this this film has a lot more to it. As an actor I have always wanted to pick different projects and that's why I'm very excited about it. The energy on the sets is great, there's vibrancy and a whole lot of fun which will definitely translate on the screen."

On working with Mahira once again after Ho Mann Jahan, Shehryar quipped that Mahira was working with him, (he gets the star credits). But on a serious note, the actor added, "Working alongside Mahira is always just too much fun. We're good friends in a personal capacity and the bonding reflects onscreen. If you're friends off screen and you share jokes, the chemistry translates onscreen. The job becomes easier when you work with someone you're comfortable with. With Mahira around there is always fun and games on the sets. We share a great camaraderie and that will reflect on the screen."

Talking about Project Ghazi being delayed on its premiere night, Sheheryar tells us that the makers are working tirelessly to perfect the glitches that occurred during the premiere and hopefully the film will release with full force in December this year.

Listening up to all these details, we're quite eager for Saat Din Mohabbat In. This one surely sounds like a fun movie, and of course we can't wait to review it. But until then, stay hooked to this space to find out more about SDMI and its cast.

Almost everyone has an opinion regarding Mahira Khan’s latest picture with Ranbir Kapoor, where the two are spotted smoking together.

From the length of her dress, to the cigarette in her hand, people have been quick to judge Mahira Khan and bash her with their opinions.

While the slut shaming isn't stopping anytime soon, the film fraternity has decided to take a stand for Mahira khan and show their support for the actress. Many of our celebs took to their social media today to shun people’s opinion and show the society the double standards it has.

Ali Zafar won hearts all over with his beautiful yet deep words on Instagram to show his support for Mahira khan

We love how united the industry stands for their fellow star. Regardless of what Mahira was up to, its none of anybody's business to comment on what she does as an individual.

Will Mahira Khan reply to these hateful comments? The star is yet to break her silence on this matter, till then peace out guys. Live and let live!

Thursday, 21 September 2017

Mohay Rung De from Abu Aleeha's directorial debut Arifa just came out and the song reminds us of something we've heard before. Tapping somewhat into the soulful genre, Mohay Rung De, will click with listeners who like listening to slow music that's not entirely classic.

Sajid Abbas seems like a potential singer but we'd like to listen to him trying more mainstream songs before we can form a decision as to whether he does soul classic better or if rock, pop or folk are his forte.

The music arrangement by Ali Allahditta has come out as rather plain; not easy but plain. We've heard and liked songs with simple arrangements before but this one comes off as something that's entirely flat and therefore does not gel well with Sajid Abbas's voice at all. The music-vocal chemistry is somewhat amiss in Mohay Rung De and that's what holds us back from immediately falling for the track.

The problem with Mohay Rung De is the fact that this song does not have a good recall value. With lyrics that run deep and hard, recalling the song will be a bit difficult for everybody. For a song to be able to hit the listeners right in the feels, it needs to be easy, with a good recall value. Even Makkay Gaya from the film Saawan taps the classic genre, and yet has a recall value that rings well with the listeners.

All in all, Mohay Rung De from Arifa is a fine listen, if one enjoys slow soulful music. Sajid Abbas stands out with his voice but its the composition that drowns his voice.

Shoaib Mansoor, has set a benchmark for the revival of Pakistani cinema with blockbusters like Khuda Ke Liye and Bol and now he's all geared up to question the society with his upcoming film Verna.

Starring Mahira Khan in the lead who'll be playing a rape victim, Verna is a film that will tackle tabooed subjects circling around a woman's honor in the society. With the powerful poster just unveiled, expectations have risen tenfold for Verna. And now, with the news of Islamabad based musician Xpolymer Dar, doing a rap track "Power Di Game" for the film, one is eagerly looking forward to the film is going to be all about.

According to sources Power Di Game is going to be one absolutely powerful track with meaningful lyrics and a strong message to give out.

Dar is a Punjabi rapper and it was Shoaib Mansoor himself who called him over and together they worked on the song. Xpolymer Dar and Shoaib Mansoor together have written the lyrics for Power Di Game and are intending to create a storm with the song.

Dar is the crew member of the band Rap Engineers who are a signature hip-hop crew of South Asia based in Islamabad, Pakistan since 2005. Rap Engineers are one of the pioneers of hip hop and the sufi rap genre in the sub continent. We also got in touch with the rapper to ask his view on the inclusion of this track in the movie and this is what he said,

"I am glad Pakistani cinema will get introduced to rap in its real form instead of the usual sexist rap that we get to hear in movies".

Mansoor a veteran writer, producer, director and the recipient of Pride of Performance, while announcing Verna had mentioned why he had designed the film.

“This film has been written and directed by a man of Pakistan for the men of the world to listen to women. It is to encourage women to speak up," Shoaib had announced. Khuda ke liye, Bol, Verna is how the film is being predicted by those who love creative genius works by Shoaib Mansoor.

Whether Power Di Game is a satire or takes a political dig at the system in Pakistan and this society, remains to be known. But we for one, are excited to review the song and of course the film for you, as soon as it hits the screens.

Sunday, 17 September 2017

ISLAMABAD .: Who knew that a small-town boy, hailing from a poverty-stricken family, travelled to Lahore, and tarried outside the very film-studio he wasn’t allowed to enter then, but comfortably seats himself now at, before speaking to me of his much-awaited return. Veteran writer Nasir Adeeb, who completes his 412th film in the coming year, happens to hold the record of being the only scriptwriter in the world to have so many releases to his credit.

Adeeb dreamt of becoming famous, and after having joined the armed forces, he was told that only a shaheed (martyr) is honoured with the ‘Nishaan-e-Haider’ (highest military award), and that’s not the kind of notability he had in mind. And so he very dramatically ran away, and after much struggle, applied to PTV and was accepted as the Assistant Programme Producer. But just then a film by his name was announced in Lahore, so he filed a court case, won and stepped foot in what was then, the magnificent Lollywood. In conversation with The Express Tribune, Nasir Adeeb dishes out his inspiring voyage into films and revisits his classic.Most recently, Adeeb launched his autobiography titled Tareekhi Jumlay and already has two sold-out editions. He sees his documentation as a piece of writing that he owed to himself. “I spent three years reading and finding myself, and that’s when I came to know that there’re only four things that God has made Himself, the first being a pen,” he delineates, adding, “I literally had tears in my eyes when I read this because I consider myself very lucky, to have been blessed with the strength to write. On the Last Day, when I’m asked of what I made use of this ‘pen’ for myself, I’ll have my book.”Rewind to 1975: The release of his first Punjabi film, Wehshi Jatt, Adeeb gave rebirth to regional cinema in Pakistan; swiftly replacing Urdu-language-films with the much clamorous, yet booming Punjabi features. It is pertinent to mention that Wehshi Jatt, produced by Azeem Malik and directed by Hassan Askari was the first film to introduce Adeeb’s character ‘Maula Jatt’. Over the course of the next few years, Adeeb wrote a handful of movies for various film-makers, around his iconic characters, ‘Maula’ and ‘Noori’. While the doom of local cinema is often attributed to the violent and vulgar content that replaced quality and refinement, that was brought about in the decades before, Nasir believes otherwise – and refreshingly, acknowledges the new crop of talent for reanimating the fraternity.“In 1988, I had predicted the downfall of our film industry because I saw the lack of respect. In our society, it was a taboo to be associated to cinema. Till now, no father would ever, proudly speak of his daughter being a great dancer or an artist, or his son, a choreographer or actor,” he exclaimed. “And so when nobody ends up leading a settled life, the industry naturally declines. Today, our society has owned cinema and that’s because actors are coming from respectable backgrounds. Actresses no longer belong to red-light districts.”After a decade, according to the Registration Act in Pakistan, the rights of characters in a film return to the writer, and Nasir Adeeb makes the most out of that, officially handing over the rights of his iconic dramatis personae, ‘Maula Jatt’ and ‘Noori Natt’ amongst others to director Bilal Lashari and Executive Producer Ammara Hikmat, CEO Encyclomedia, for its anticipated reboot.“Bilal is the one who came to me with this idea and I was very shocked, because he doesn’t speak in Punjabi at all, but wants to reboot the original film – but in Punjabi, and the film is set during an era he, himself hasn’t witnessed,” he began of his early encounter with the Waar director. “And it’s all the more interesting to know that our producer, Ammara and none of Bilal’s assistants converse in Punjabi either. Knowing Bilal, one can expect him to set trends and break norms. Any ordinary film-maker wouldn’t dare putting his stakes on a Punjabi language film after directing a blockbuster hit. His regard for our language and culture is what brought me into this project.”However, Adeeb was all praises for the makers and their devotion towards helming a classic that he promises to be “logical” yet doesn’t lose its gandaasa essence, something he found missing back in the day. “It is after working on Maula Jatt that I’ve realised what film-makers actually do. It would’ve been amazing to have started off with Bilal and Ammara; they’re so passionate about the film,” he shares.“Dair ayad, durust ayad (it’s taken a bit of time to reach there, but I have arrived), and that will hopefully reflect by the numbers it generates at the Box Office.” It’s surprising to see Adeeb evolve and adapt to the new wave of a cinema that is equal parts conventional entertainment and modern sensibilities. Despite having a career spanning over four decades, Adeeb’s humility and progress is laudable. However, he is also well aware of Maula Jatt’s cult-position in films and sees the transformation of his characters in collaboration with Lashari as an opportunity to introduce himself to the younger and more contemporary audience.“I think I’m starting from zero, I feel it’s my first film and maybe that’s why I look up to Bilal and his vision. In a way, it’s my entry to new-age cinema and this is my chance to prove myself,” he maintains. “When you first visit the Taj Mahal, you look at it as a building, but it’s once you’ve seen it that you realise what it symbolises and how it was Shah Jehan’s token of love for his most beloved wife. Maybe after watching Maula Jatt, people would want to know what I hold.”He continued of the franchise’s epic run at the movies and the Punjabi accent that returns to the fore with Lashari’s directorial. “There are five Bollywood adaptations of Maula Jatt as well. Four of which failed, so Dharmendra, who starred in them, eventually called me and I wrote Ghayal. He then asked me why the earlier films had tanked, even though they had excellent production values – but the truth is that it’s actually the dialect that makes a film like this a hit.”Starring, the most celebrated actors in the country, Fawad Khan takes the lead as Maula Jatt, whilst Hamza Ali Abbasi wears the antagonist, Noori Natt’s hat with aplomb; Mahira Khan and Humaima Malick also feature as the film’s leading ladies and we can barely wait to see what the renowned quartet have in store. Unlike other writers, Adeeb seems well-engaged in the film’s production stage as well, allowing its team to grasp from the story innovator himself.“I remember this one scene where the late Sultan Rahi delivered a very powerful dialogue, which was followed by Noori Natt’s in the original, where he says, ‘Oye Jatta’, which Mustafa Qureshi never got right,” Adeeb chuckled. “So Hamza does speak in Punjabi, but Fawad, Mahira and Humaima don’t, but they understand that and are very easy to work with. They pick up the accent I narrate to them very well and are extremely hard-working. That’s all that matters.”He very fondly recalls the good ol’-days of the gandaasa glory, but has evidently gelled in well with the juvenile crowd of the fraternity. He draws parallels between Maula Jatt and James Bond, and hopes its forthcoming installment crosses the 100 Crore mark, setting new records. Rational, seemingly pragmatic and clearly vehement about cinema, Maula Jatt is one film that we anticipate; it goes without saying.

Saturday, 16 September 2017

For the makers of Saawan, the vital part was delivering their message. Their heart is in the right place, which makes it a praise worthy effort. Directed by Farhan Alam, the movie looks at the life of a disabled boy named Saawan (Karam Hussain), left behind in his village when his parents and all village dwellers leave for the city due to famine. The story revolves around the survival of the boy and the friends he makes along the way. Will he survive or the extremely challenging environment and other forces take his life?

Shot in the high terrains of Baluchistan, there are many scenes in Saawan, which will leave you in awe. The mountains, the deserts and the lakes are captured stunningly and the DOP has done a brilliant job. Pakistani filmmakers are not only highlighting, social issues but also showcasing how beautiful some of the neglected areas of Pakistan are. Laadak's (India) was one such example, where a film (3 Idiots) changed the fortunes of the local population as tourism shot up.

Coming back to the story of the film, it tries to highlight many varied grave issues. The treatment of a differently-abled person in the film is quite reflective of how our society treats them. So is the very apparent sexism and misogyny. Its borders on child and women abuse. How sardars, in rural areas rule without impunity and the state bends to their wishes. It touches on the polio epidemic and how polio eradication teams have been targeted in our country. Child trafficking is also under the microscope as Saleem Mairaj playing a child trafficker, gives the role the necessary impetus. Despite only being in the quarter of the film, this character is most developed and I am pretty sure audiences will come out of the cinema hating him.

In the backdrop, but a key part of the plot is a man, who has been cast aside from the village, tied down to a bed away from the settlements because of his mental disability. The villagers call him ‘Bala’. It illustrates how difficult it is for refugees to become part of their new home and lead a normal life. Moreover, the heartless attitude of the public as well as authorities towards those in need is also a stark reminder of the society we have developed. The role of media and censorship issues also get a mention. Lastly, there is the film touching base of the very real threat of terrorism.

As one might think these are very many issues to divulge into in two and half hours. This is a bit of a problem with the film. As it aims to discuss so much, it goes dull especially in the 2nd half. There are roles and sequences which could be cut out entirely i.e. Media personnel and the power struggle between children at one point of the movie. With better editing, and more focused direction, Saawan could have been a bit shorter and delivered a more powerful message. In its current form, it can leave the audiences a bit overwhelmed with the sheer number of plots.

Nevertheless, all performers, Arif Bahalim, Najeeba Faiz, Imran Aslam, Tipu Yorguc, Hafeez Ali and Shahid Nizam play their roles aptly. To sum up, Saawan I presume was very challenging to shoot and on a topic which isn't very commercial. The makers of the movie wanted to deliver important messages & they have managed to do it. It’s a praiseworthy effort which could have been better. Good couple of weeks for Pakistani cinema followers.

JPNA was an ultimate joyride, a movie that left you with fits of laughter and gave you cramps with its humor. The film, an original Pakistani movie, was simply amazing and set cash registers rolling for the makers. And ever since Nadeem Baig, the director, hinted at a sequel for Jawani Phir Nahi Ani, we were on the lookout. And so here it comes, everything you ever wanted to know about Jawani Phir Nahi Ani, straight from the man, the captain of the ship Nadeem Baig himself.

Jawani Phir Nahi Ani sequel has very much entered its pre-production stage. Nadeem Baig tells us the script has been planned and pre-production is going on at the moment. The film is all set to hit the floors next month, until which the casting will be completed.

According to Nadeem, "Humayun Saeed, Vasay Chaudhry and Ahmad Ali Butt alongside Sarwat Gillani and Uzma Khan are part of the film. Newest addition to the cast include Fahad Mustafa, opposite whom Syra Shahroz has been finalized."

Baig further added how a potential actor was being considered for the role opposite Humayun Saeed. Speculations and sources tell us any one from Mawra Hocane, Maya Ali or Humaima Malick might make it to the sequel opposite Humayun this time.

Hamza Ali Abbasi will not be seen in the sequel of Jawani Phir Nahi Ani, but as Nadeem adds, "you never know, Hamza might make a surprise entry perhaps."

Revealing further, Baig also told us that majority of the shooting for Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 would be done outside Pakistan. But wait, its not Bangkok this time. As Nadeem puts it, the team is flying off for a European adventure this time.

Imagine Humayun, Fahad, Ahmad and Vasay romancing some slick European beauties and you'll be more eager to watch the sequel just like us. Will the boys have learnt their lesson? Will they be heading off for more fun, landing in trouble or getting away with it? Watch out for the sequel of our much loved Jawani Phir Nahi Ani.

Until then stay hooked to this space to find out more about JPNA 2.

Wednesday, 13 September 2017

LAHORE : After the massive success of the recent Eid releases, seven new Pakistani films are all set to hit screens this year and gruelling work has commenced in local film studios to make this possible.

Local distributors are avoiding the release of new films in October due to the holy month of Muharram. Therefore, Sayed Atif Ali’s film Pari, Producer Sohail Khan’s Shor Sharaba and Director Sangeeta’s film Tum Hi To Ho will all be releasing in November, while December is reserved for the release of Arth 2, Rangreza, Chupan Chupai and Maula Jutt 2.

Following the success of Punjab Nahi Jaungi and Na Maloom Afraad 2, local film distributors have shared that they are planning to strengthen the Pakistani film industry. They hope that the public will see local films dominating cinemas within the coming months too. Cinema owners were chuffed with the positive response that both these films garnered and the industry’s stake holders experienced a well-deserved boost.

It is pertinent to mention that this year witnessed the release of many films. These include Mehrunisa V Lub U, Yalghaar, Balu Mahi, Whistle and Thora Jee Le. However, all of them proved to be disappointing at the box office. Due to this, film producers were hesitant to release films fearing heavier losses. However, the recent successes have provided the confidence that the Pakistani film industry’s insiders required, leading to the announcements of the release of seven new films.

“I am releasing my film in November as I think that it will be the right time to release Shor Sharaba. There were many factors involved for not releasing films due to the political and business situations, and no one will appreciate to bear losses after spending millions,” shared senior film producer Sohail Khan.

“The release of Pakistani films has been kept to a minimum this year as compared to last year. A total of 53 movies released last year whereas this year only held 28, including Urdu, Punjabi and Pashto,” revealed Director Altaf Hussain.

He added, “We are hopeful though, as we finally had profitable films on the big screens this Eid. We are expecting good results and many people in the film industry are making decisions on launching future projects due to these profits.”

The Chairman of the Pakistan Film Distributor’s Association, Ch Ejaz Kamran also articulated his thoughts on the situation. “No one was willing to start new film projects due to the losses incurred by the film industry. However, the stake holders are now optimistic and ready to invest in more films as it seems like the last two months only saw Pakistani films dominating the cinemas,” he stated.

He continued, “We have struggled a lot for our local films to excel. The whole industry has shown endless efforts to promote our films within the last five years and this year, we will reap the rewards.”

Monday, 11 September 2017

Na Maloom Afraad 2 has delivered massive numbers at domestic market in it's first 10 days.. Film recorded superb first Extended Weekend of 7.49cr approx.

Held exceedingly well on Tuesday but there came falls on Wednesday and Thursday.. Film managed close to 11.5cr approx it it's first Week and now it has recorded very good numbers in second Weekend also.

Film has collected 15.25cr approx in 10 days with second Weekend falling around 50%.. Hold is pretty good considering tough competition it is having from Punjab Nahi Jaungi plus massive first Week it had.

Film is having dream run in Karachi where Nueplex has collected over 2cr approx in 10 days which is almost double of Punjab Nahi Jaungi

Film is having excellent run in Hyderabad also.. In Punjab films is doing good too but it not at record levels. In Karachi film has already become second highest grosser of year behind Fast 8 in just 10 days.

Saturday, 9 September 2017

In an industry that's setting up itself on a firm footing, its a great pleasure to see new film makers try out every and all genres they can. Not everybody considers love stories as their forte and strive to make something new and different. And the latest venture to join the league of something different and exciting is the upcoming Pakistani horror movie, Aks.

Aks is being produced by a Dubai based film production company called MV Films and the movie is also associated with Asim Saadi Productions with direction by Asif Pervez. The movie will feature a string of actors including Roman who is the lead followed by Faiza Asif, Arslan Sheraz, Mathira, Jyoti Dagar amongst others.

The shoot for Aks has been wrapped up and the film is undergoing post production at the moment. Asif Pervez, director Aks, in a conversation with HIP mentioned how he had been wanting to work on a horror movie for some time.

"I wanted to work on this subject with the vision that to date our Pakistani film industry doesn't have any good entertaining horror movie; which allows people to connect to the story and enjoy it with family," said Asif.

Arslan Sheraz, head of marketing at MV Films told HIP that Aks will have a great music score, that has been designed very well in accordance to the theme of the movie. "Aks has been shot in Dubai and the music score of the film will be much enjoyed by everyone. We've strived hard to produce something high quality which we believe can give any Bollywood music a run for their money.

Currently under post production, Aks is all set to release in December this year and we're excited to watch and experience the horror the film promises to deliver.

Punjab Nahi Jaungi has seen good hold on second Friday in Pakistan as film has recorded biggest second Friday of 2017. Numbers are still coming from all circuits and it seems film is going around 1.3 to 1.4 Crore approx on day eight which is fantastic numbers.

Final numbers are expected later today but numbers have held extremely well in Rawalpindi circuit collecting 24 Lacs approx which is excellent number.

Film has seen some drop in Lahore but that was expected as that circuit had seen best performance for the film in first Week and it has set new record for Pakistani films in that circuit and Eid effect also ended.

Karachi circuit has held well. Overall film has seen fall compared to Thursday but Thursday itself was all time record hence fall was expected but fall is not big.

Film has collected over 14 Crore approx in eight days and second Weekend will be among biggest second Weekends of all time.

The releases brought out the healthy competition required for the local film industry to grow. Almost one week later, the two films are going strong on the box office and even shattering records internationally.

According to senior vice president of ARY Films – local distributors of the film, Irfan Malik, Punjab Nahi Jaungi has collected Rs100 million across Pakistan by Tuesday. While he was unable to confirm international records, he estimated it at around $800, 000. The film’s official Facebook page states the film has collected Rs215 million overall, including domestic and international box office earnings.

Malik told The Express Tribune, “Tuesday was the test and Punjab Nahi Jaungi passed with flying colours. It has done phenomenal in Punjab and great in Karachi and elsewhere.” He believed the film will hold up during the coming weekend as well.

Meanwhile, for Na Maloom Afraad 2, no one from Urdu1, local distributors of the film, was available to comment or confirm the official box office figures. Reports circulating suggest similar figures of NMA2, with the film collecting about Rs100 million.

With the two films starring leading actors from Pakistani entertainment industry taking over Eidul Azha, the cinemas have been crowded with people, come rain, sacrificial waste blocking streets, or whatever may. Super cinemas general manager Khorem Gultasab confirmed that PNJ is having a phenomenal run in Punjab. “Tuesday was the litmus test for the two films. We had an average of 99% to 100% occupancy for PNJ until Tuesday. All PNJ shows were full and sold out, while NMA2 had 99% occupancy on shows after 7pm,” he said. “On Wednesday, an average of 70% for PNJ and NMA2 dropped to 30%.”

He added that 80% of his cinemagoers demanded for Punjab Nahi Jaungi. As far as the coming weekend is concerned, he said, “I expect the films to hold steady, because most people, especially in Lahore, visit their village on this Eid, and come back now, so they will definitely watch these films.”

In Karachi, Atrium cinemas managing director Nadeem Mandviwalla said both films were doing well. “We are having 95% occupancy in all shows after 11am.” He also added that Na Maloom Afraad 2 was leading in Karachi.

While both films are said to have collected Rs100 million, it’s not really out of place for distributors to exaggerate figures. While one film may have a lead over the other, it can be only be a slight difference as trend, evident by exhibitors’ statements, shows that both films are performing exceedingly well.

Qureshi’s golden pot have may cracked up Karachi, but Hayat’s refusal to go to Punjab has intrigued the bigger province. The following weekend will be crucial in deciding which film goes the marathon and which one was only ready for a 100 meter sprint. Punjab Nahi Jaungi also beat Bollywood film Badshaho in UK box office.

Punjab Nahi Jaungi has taken flying start in UK on Friday, Thursday previews numbers had suggested big numbers on Friday but it has exceeded expectations as it has collected 72,000/- Pounds approx on Friday which is more than three times numbers of Baadshaho on Friday. Numbers are something that is never seen before for Pakistani films and Weekend might reach 250,000/- Pounds which will be excellent result.

Film's numbers in UK on Friday are more than film's domestic numbers which has never happened for a Urdu film. Talking of records numbers are biggest day one of All Time In UK for Pakistani film and it will shatter overseas record by big margin. BIN Roye still holds biggest overseas start record for Urdu films and this film will break that record with big margin. Film is heading toward a Weekend of over 3 Crore PKR in UK and Bin Roye had collected in region of 4.5 Crore PKR over it's opening Weekend in all overseas markets.. Film's day one numbers in UK are almost in same region as 10 days numbers of Ho Mann Jahaan in UK.

Below are Thursday previews plus Friday numbers in UK as per Runtrack:

Friday, 1 September 2017

Apart from that exposé that's provided to the audience with the songs, I could tell you that Na Maloom Afraad 2 will entertain you. The film starts off with highlighting the inequalities in our society and keeps the theme through-out the movie.

Farhan (Fahad Mustafa) and Shakeel bhai (Javed Sheikh) are threatened by goons and very soon it leads to them becoming dirt poor once again. Moon (Mohsin Abbas Haider) unknowingly invites them over to Cape Town. And its in Cape Town, the trio runs into problems as they look to find a short cut to get rich once again (or richer in case of Moon). Sheikh al Baklawa played by Nayyar Ejaz has a golden commode where he hides his ‘Pink diamonds'. There is kidnapping, swearing, shooting, dancing, two "Gunday" inspired villains and lots and lots of jokes that take the film forward.

Will they find the diamonds, will the kidnapped girls be saved, what happens to the pot? I am pretty sure you could answer these questions after watching the trailer. Hence, why the title of this review has the word predictable.

What NMA 2 lacks in terms of twists and turns in the story, it entirely makes up for it with tremendous acting, funny one liners and an overall stylish look of the film.

Javed Sheikh and Saleem Mairaj (who plays one of the Gunday) are the two best performers on display. Fahad Mustafa is at his quirky best as he inevitably gets the best lines. Having watched him talk extempore, one wonders how many of his dialogues are improvised on delivery. Mohsin Abbas Haider provides the required edginess and caution to his character Moon. Also, I was personally really delighted to see him not overdoing his shirtless scenes with his toned-up body. His love interest Pari (Hania Aamir), is a lovely addition to the cast. She is all dolled up for her character and aptly plays the confused girl. Urwa Hocane just plays her part but left with a little room to deliver any punch, she does what she best could.

There are some hilarious sequences like the relatable not-being-able-to-find-shopping-bag scene. In the climax, Javed Sheikh goes through a bit of a transformation which leads to some laugh-out-loud moments. I just wish the director had played on it a bit more.

The songs are not worth discussing much, and could be cut out entirely (I am looking at Hug Lay). I could use a whole range of adjectives to describe the one song "Hug Lay" because I still don't understand how the censor board allowed this song with bikini clad models to run?. Stunning, bewildering, astounding and many more words of the same genre could categorize my reaction on the song because I just want to know how this happened. AIB (a famous Indian group) did a parody party song that includes a line ‘kyun k ye gana hai censors will let it go’. Maybe that is it with Hug Lay as well.

Situations in the film sometimes do feel a bit doctored or forced but that is how most comedies work. There are a few tiny bits of details which I found really refreshing for a Pakistani film, like Moon owning a 1960s vintage car and also decorating his home with a set of car models, offered good visual delight.

Na Maloom Afraad in 2014 was a breath of fresh air. It showed Karachi’s ugly under belly without exposing it too ferociously to shock the audiences. The strength of the movie was how the director, Nabeel Qureshi had portrayed the chaos that grips this wonderful city.

In 2017, Na Maloom Afraad 2, takes us to Cape Town, South Africa. Hence the biggest strength of the director is taken away. Having said that, still NMA 2 was a cleverly made film which will entertain a varied crowd. However, here is hoping Nabeel Qureshi takes on a different genre in his next and takes Pakistani cinema in a new direction like he did with Na Maloom Afraad.